Mayor defies ‘authoritarian’ Trump orders on Seattle immigration

On Wednesday, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray sent a message to President Donald Trump in opposition to his recently signed executive orders, calling it the “darkest day” for American immigration since the days of Japanese internment camps. Murray said Seattle immigration policies will not change.

“We will not be intimidated,” Murray said. “Not by federal dollars, and we will not be intimidated by the authoritarian message coming from this administration.”

“This is another attempt by (Trump) to consolidate his administration and create the first authoritarian administration in the history of America,” he said.

Related: Millions on the line for Seattle as Trump signs executive orders

President Trump signed a series of executive orders Wednesday morning regarding immigration at the Department of Homeland Security. One fulfilled a campaign promise to build a wall on the Mexico-US border. Another enacts a series of actions, including withholding federal money from sanctuary cities. The orders come shortly after the president repeated false claims that illegal immigrants contributed to the last election — despite all evidence indicating otherwise. In 2003, Seattle passed legislation establishing it as a sanctuary city. After Trump’s election in November, Murray affirmed that Seattle immigration policies will continue to support it as a “welcoming city.”

Murray said that Seattle’s budget is roughly $5 billion per year and that it receives about $75 million in federal funding. About $10 million of those federal funds go to police. But Murray turned his argument away from funding and said that the issue comes down to Seattle’s families and friends.

“I’m willing to lose every single penny to protect those people,” Murray said, noting that if he knows anything about Seattle, it’s that its residents care about civil rights.

“This is a civil rights issue,” he said. “It is a violation of the constitution to turn parents and their children over for money.”

Murray said they will put money into legal defense to bring the issue to the courts.

“I will look at options to go back to the ballot and ask the people of the city for more revenue,” Murray said.

Mayor Murray said he has directed city departments to adjust their budgets to prepare for any funding cuts in the future if they are threatened over Seattle immigration policies.

Seattle immigration

In his speech, Murray tied Trump’s aims to other actions by the United States government that today are looked upon as sources of embarrassment. Actions such as the internment of Japanese citizens during World War II.

“We will not, as we did in WWII, allow our police to become deputies of the federal government and round up immigrants in this city,” Murray said. “We will fight any attempt by the federal government to strip funding from this city. Seattle remains committed … to be a welcoming city; a city that welcomes immigrants and refugees regardless of their documentation.”

“Mr. President, this city has been here before and we are not going way,” he said.

Murray argued that Seattle has the law on its side – that the federal government cannot force cities to enforce federal immigration laws. He cited the fourth amendment and said it ensures that arrests and detentions must be supported by probably cause.

“The executive orders are counter to our constitution and a threat to this city’s values,” Murray said. “Seattle is prepared to take any legal avenues that we need to.”

“As Donald Trump builds his wall, we will build a bridge,” he said.

King County vs. Trump

Mayor Murray is not the only local official responding to Trump’s executive order. A statement released by King County Executive Dow Constantine included the following:

The administration’s action against immigrants and refugees betrays the fundamental principle that has guided our nation since its inception: that we welcome people who come here fleeing tyranny, fleeing oppression, seeking a better life. We do not build walls. We demand that they be torn down. We do not ask people to show their papers when they report a crime or bring their sick child to a clinic. We do not push children and families into the shadows, and sow fear among our neighbors who may look or speak or pray differently than the majority.

King County proudly upholds the fundamental, self-evident truth announced at our nation’s founding: that all are created equal. We embrace the basic American value that we are a nation of opportunity for all. Immigrants and refugees are welcome here, and our region has acted decisively to become more inclusive, removing barriers to affordable housing, transit, and support to help children.

Now, in this toxic environment, we must do even more. We will offer even greater assistance to community partners providing legal services and immigration assistance. We will increase support and resources to those who can gain citizenship. We will work with local cities and other counties to establish stronger safeguards to protect undocumented immigrants and refugees.

Martin Luther King Jr. County is a place where everyone – regardless of where they started in life – has the opportunity to flourish. Today’s actions by the administration, and those actions we expect are to come, serve only to strengthen our resolve, and draw our community closer.

Washington state vs. Trump

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson also responded to Trump’s orders with the following statement:

I am deeply troubled by the President’s Executive Order today regarding sanctuary jurisdictions. His order raises significant legal issues that my office will be investigating closely to protect the constitutional and human rights of the people of our state.

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